Beowulf (2007)
Movie Title: Beowulf (2007)
Actors: Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, Brendan Gleeson, Angelina Jolie, Robin Wright Penn, John Malkovich
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Language:English / Ancient English
Studio: ImageMovers
Runtime:113 min
Movie Description
Spectacular animated action scenes turn the ancient epic poem Beowulf into a present fantasy movie, while shift-capture technology transforms plump actor Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast) into a burly Nordic warrior. When a Danish kingdom is threatened by the monster Grendel (voiced and physicalized by Crispin Glover, River’s Edge), Beowulf–lured by the promise of heroic glory–comes to rescue them. He succeeds, but cascade prey to the seductive potential of Grendel’s mother, played by Angelina Jolie… and as Jolie’s pneumatically animated form rises from an underground lagoon with demon-claw high heels, it becomes clear that we’re leaving the original epic far, far in the rear.
Regrettably, the shift-capture process has made only modest improvements since The Polar Express; while the characters’ eyes no longer look so flat and zombie-like, their faces remain inexpressive and movements are still wooden. As a result, the most effective sequences feature wildly animated battles and the most vivid character is Grendel, whose grotesqueness ends up making him far more sympathetic than any of the mannequin-like human beings. The meant-to-be-titillating images of a naked Jolie resemble an inflatable doll more than a living, breathing woman (or succubus, as the case may be). But the fights–particularly Grendel’s initial assault on the celebration hut–pop with lushly animated gore and violence. Also featuring the CGI-muffled talents of Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs), Robin Wright Penn (The Princess Bride), and John Malkovich (Perilous Liaisons). –Bret Fetzer
Movie Review
“Beowulf”, excellent tales can’t die off. They live on by being retold again for every new generation. My condolences to the purists: this telling speaks to today’s generation. What’s of this generation is fantastic. Star potential includes Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, John Malkovich, and scripting by Neil Gaiman. The vigor (yes, it’s vigor) represents the very best of this generation too. Jolie has voice credits, but she clearly gave a lot more than her voice to the animators. Ditto Hopkins, who transformed expertly into Hrothgar – computerized alchemy explored the ridiculous thought that Hopkins could ever be dumpy, but did so convicingly. Fussy bits, hair and beard among them, set this vigor ahead of others, but so do the other aspects of cinema and artistry. Today’s best vigor comes up small of actuality, but this comes right up to the best of today’s vigor.
The tale itself survived largely intact. Specialists (I can name one) will be disappointed – but they always are. The graphic novel might be the literary form of the emerging generation, and this speaks directly in that idiom as only computer vigor can. Even with that, real tensions with real ambiguities come through. The odd logic of senior wife protecting junior doxy and vice versa gives a small to reflect about, even if only a small. If you want the grandest of comic books, you came to the right place. With a thousand being of telling, maybe more, this tale still fits well between the covers of today’s comics. Then, once comic-fied, it becomes the grandest of comic-book movies. Whoever did “300″ did well, but was just practicing. “Beowulf” is what they practiced for. — wiredweird
Plot Synopsis
In Denmark in the year 507 a.D., elderly King Hrothgar (Anthony Hopkins) dedicates his new mead hall in a drunken carousing. He and his people have conquered other lands and composed much booty. Although his queen, Wealthow (Robin Wright Penn) clearly disapproves, the assembled warriors and maidens clearly delight in themselves. But, in a cavern not far from the mead hall, the singing and dancing is a painful nuisance to the misshapen half-human, half-demon Grendel (Crispin Glover). Enraged, Grendel attacks the mead hall and kills or maims many of the warriors. He spares Hrothgar’s life, but. With he returns to the cavern, his mother, a water demon (Angelina Jolie) soothes him. The next day, Hrothgar orders the mead hall sealed and sends out a call for a hero to come and rid the kingdom of Grendel.
Several months later, Beowulf (Ray Winstone) answers the call. His troops are led by his second-in-command, Wiglaf (Brendan Gleeson). Beowulf and his band are not Danes but rather Geats, which rankles Hrothgar’s proud battle senior officer, Unferth (John Malkovich). He mocks Beowulf’s legendary feats. Beowulf orders the mead hall reopened; that is everywhere he will struggle Grendel. That night, a further party (even if more cowed) is held. Wealthow plays her lute and sings. She and Beowulf are clearly attracted to one a further. Hrothgar promises to give Beowulf his Dragon Horn, a gorgeous gold mead cup with a dragon carved into the side of it, should he kill Grendel.
That night, with the Danes have gone to bed, Beowulf’s men sing bawdy songs to lure Grendel. When Grendel arrives, he kills many of Beowulf’s men. Beowulf strips nude to struggle Grendel hand to hand. He bursts Grendel’s ear drums then severs his arm. As Grendel slinks into the night, Beowulf taunts him with boasts about his own strength and potential. Grendel returns to the cavern everywhere, with his dying breath, he tells his mother the name of the man who killed him. Read More…
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